Mumbai: FIR registered in Manipuri woman's molestation case

After mid-day reported on the indifference displayed by police officers at the Vakola police station to a 26-year-old Manipuri girl who had come to register an FIR against her molesters, the police have recorded the girl's statement and have registered an FIR in the case. Senior police authorities have also ordered an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) level inquiry into the matter.

A team of women police officials visited girl's home in Santacruz yesterday evening and recorded a detailed statement. A case under Indian Penal Code Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult), was registered yesterday evening. DCP ZoneVIII Virendra Mishra confirmed that an FIR has been registered in the matter.

Regarding the police inquiry, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dhananjay Kulkarni said, "An ACP level departmental inquiry has been ordered in the matter by senior authorities. Vakola division ACP will conduct the inquiry to find out if there was any negligence on the police's part while registering the complaint."

Yesterday, a senior officer said that prima-facie negligence on the police's part has been seen in not lodging the FIR. The officer added that since the past few years, they have been taking efforts through various means to teach cops at the police station level to adopt a friendly approach while attending a complainant, especially women, children and senior citizens.

The case
The girl was on Saturday evening allegedly assaulted, molested and dragged by her hair in broad daylight on the streets by an unknown person, who fled the scene by the time she called the cops. The girl on Tuesday told mid-day that police had registered an NC when she had asked for an FIR.